GMB to open more collection points

THE Grain Marketing Board (GMB) will open more collection points as part of efforts to de-congest its depots countrywide, an official has said.

The move comes in the wake of complaints by farmers over delays in getting served at the depots while delivering grain.

In a statement, GMB corporate communications manager Mr Joseph Katete said they were making efforts to open more collection points in a bid to de-congest their depots countrywide.

“The GMB also intends to scale up the opening of collection points pending its receipt of funding from Treasury. The opening of collection points will also assist to de-congest its depots,” he said.

He added that the GMB wanted to assure the nation and farmers in particular that it was putting in place measures to ensure that deliveries were done within the shortest possible time.

Said Mr Katete: “These measures include working long hours at some of the busiest depots as well as recruiting additional staff to expedite the uptake of deliveries from farmers and processing farmers’ payments too.”

He also added that farmers who had been complaining over the delays being experienced at some GMB depots should know that the issue was being taken care of.

“The GMB also took note of recent media reports where farmers were complaining about the delays being experienced at some GMB depots.

“We are happy to say that situation at GMB Chipinge, for instance, has already been attended to and that the reported delay was caused by an operational issue.

“The depot had reached its full capacity, therefore, management had resorted to moving Presidential Inputs to create space for new intake. The farmers were attended to after more space had been created,” he said.

Further to that, the GMB is in the process of installing 26 additional weighbridges at its busiest depots.